Joel Klatt Explains Why Ohio State Hired Chip Kelly and Why Ryan Day
Head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes Ryan Day resorted to his reliable buddy Chip Kelly after Bill O’Brien left.
This offseason, Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day started his second hunt for a new offensive coordinator since Bill O’Brien left.
He hired his close buddy and former boss Chip Kelly to take over the offense this time because he wasn’t going to take any chances.
And pursuing Kelly made perfect sense, as college football analyst Joel Klatt recently disclosed in his podcast.
Why? due of Day’s unspoken faith in Kelly.
“You tend to lean on those you trust when you’re at square one and facing a difficult situation,” Klatt remarked. Ryan Day has the utmost trust in none other than Chip Kelly in this industry. Kelly will now depart from UCLA to join Ohio State as an offensive coordinator. That is just crazy. But Chip headed to Ohio State as soon as Bill O’Brien left. It was quite logical.
Naturally, Kelly’s reputation as one of the best offensive minds in the game—at both the NFL and collegiate levels—also undoubtedly had an impact on the choice.
Nevertheless, Kelly and Day’s past cannot be denied.
He’ll now work for what I consider to be his closest professional friend, if not his best friend overall, according to Klatt. “They’ve had a past. Ryan Day was coached by Chip at New Hampshire. I mean, it makes perfect sense. In this sport, Ryan Day has greater faith in Chip Kelly than anyone else.
Day and Kelly have a long history together; from 1998 to 2001, Day was Kelly’s quarterback at New Hampshire. In 2002, Day served as the coach of tight ends and Kelly as the offensive coordinator for New Hampshire.
In 2015, the two were back in coaching together, but Day was now working under Kelly as the QB coach for the Eagles. After a year, Day rejoined the 49ers as the QB coach, and Kelly became the team’s head coach.
Kelly will have access to every talent in the globe as he travels to Columbus to meet up with Day again.
There is so much skill that Klatt believes the Buckeyes may have finally overcome Michigan with Kelly in place.
“Remember, over the past three years, part of what has gotten Ohio State beat against Michigan is that Michigan was the better team running the football,” Klatt stated.”Ohio State ranked 88th in the nation in terms of football rushing last year. That must improve, and it will. Ryan Day’s primary goal is to defeat Michigan, and I believe he is fully committed to that. Ohio State has had the best offseason of anyone. That is enhanced by this.
